MILFORD – A public hearing for the annexation of 166 acres of land – a prospective development site north of town – is scheduled for May 14.
Milford council members Monday set the date, which is during the regular 7 p.m. meeting in the town hall. This will be the second phase of the annexation of the property at Old Ind. 15 and CR 1300N.
The total size of the land, owned by the Beer family and managed by BRTB Investments LLC, is 225 acres. Last summer, the council approved the first phase, the annexation of 52 acres, and expects to take action on the second parcel of land in June.
The Milford Redevelopment Commission recommended the second phase of annexation earlier this month.
Town officials have no estimate on the cost of infrastructure development, but plan to pay for sewer and water line extensions and upgrades to the east side lift station by creating a tax increment financing district on the newly annexed land.
Also during the meeting, the council voted to make the intersection of Main and Catherine streets downtown into an all-way stop. Currently, there is a stop on Catherine at Main, but councilman Dan Cochran noted that with a library, church and school bus drop-off at the corner, it could stand to be safer.
The council previously considered changing parking at the corner from diagonal to parallel, to provide a better view for drivers, but a study by Town Marshal Rich Miotto and Utilities Superintendent Randy Veach determined that it would eliminate three of the six parking spots currently available.
The change to an all-way stop may be made as soon as next week, and Miotto noted there will be a grace period for drivers until they get used to the change. The council will review the change after 30 days.
The council earlier renewed a tax abatement agreement with CTB Inc., the fourth year of a 10-year option begun when Chore-Time added a wing at the north end of the plant. Council President Doug Ruch remarked that CTB had originally promised to add at least 180 jobs with a payroll of $5.4 million, and exceeded the goal with 196 jobs and a payroll of more than $8 million.
Members also approved a tax phase-in for a building and land owned by LMA-HUF Development.
Also during the meeting, the council agreed to waive fees for the Milford Lions Club renting the community building for a pancake and sausage Milford Days breakfast fundraiser May 12 from 6 to 10 a.m.; approved $4,000 for building a storage shed on the site of the salt bin, which will be replaced at another location for about $5,000; and agreed to write off about $800 worth of uncollectable debts from dead accounts.
